4 Day Ischia Itinerary: The best of Ischia Island

Plan the perfect trip with this 4-day Ischia Itinerary! Explore stunning beaches, relax in thermal spas, hike scenic trails, and discover the best places to eat and drink.

Ischia has been on my bucket-list for a while so when I was planning my 3 week Europe summer trip last year I knew it had to be included in the itinerary. Ischia is a small Island in the bay of Naples, which is a great alternative to some of the busier, more ‘touristy’ destinations such as Capri and the Amalfi Coast. Although it is near some of these destinations, Ischia has its own unique charm. It is a Volcanic island with beautiful scenery and hiking spots, stunning beaches, and thermal hot springs, and it has a very authentic feel to it.

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How to get to Ischia

The only way to get to Ischia is by boat. The closest airport is Naples, from there you can get the Alibus airport bus to Naples Maritime Station. This takes about 35 minutes and costs €5 one way. You can buy this from the ticket machines in the airport, or on the bus but this needs to be in cash. Then you will need to get the Ferry or Hydrofoil to Ischia. They run regularly from 6am- 21:55 pm and it takes between 50 minutes to an hour. You can book these before you get there, I used Ferryhopper to do this. Or you can buy it at the ticket office at the port.

Where to stay in Ischia

Ischia Ponte

I chose to stay in Ischia Ponte which is actually a small area within Ischia Porto but I preferred it to Ischia Port. It is such a beautiful area with restaurants all along the seafront, a stunning view of the castle, and plenty of authentic bars and restaurants in the town. There is also a beautiful beach club (Giardino Eden), and a few small beaches here (Pescatori Beach and Carta Romana). However, it was a little bit more difficult to get to other towns on the island as I had to get the bus to the port first.

Ischia Porto

One of the most popular areas to stay in Ischia is Ischia Porto. It is where the ferry port is so it is easy to get to, and there are lots of restaurants, cafes, bars and shops here. It is also where the main bus terminal is to get around to the different towns on the island.

Forio

Another popular town to stay in is Forio, which is where I would choose to stay next time I visit. It is a beautiful beach town with colourful buildings along the front, lots of cafes and shops. There are several stunning beaches in Forio (Bay of San Francesco, Bay of Citara, Cava dell’Isola), hiking trails with stunning scenery and it is also close to Negombo and Poseidon thermal spas. Forio is a great choice if you want a vibrant nightlife, it has great options for bars and restaurants.

Maronti Beach

Another great area is near Maronti Beach which is a large sandy beach with lots of beach bars and restaurants. This is also where Le Terme di Cavascura thermal spa is located. However, Maronti Beach isn’t on the main bus route so it is quite difficult to visit other areas on the island with public transport.

Sant’Angelo

Sant’Angelo is a charming fishing village with beautiful sandy beaches (Spiaggia di Sant’Angelo and Spiaggia di Cava Grado) and stunning coastal views. It is a lot quieter than other areas of the island, with a few nice bars and restaurants. It is also near Sorgeto beach which is where there are hot springs.

Casamicciola

This area has several quaint villages, a marina and is a great location for visiting the thermal springs. There is a picturesque harbour area with restaurants, bars and shops, and you can also find some lovely beaches including covent beach. You can visit Castiglione Thermal Park, O Vagnitiello Thermal Park, and Pio Monte della Misericordia here.

Day 1: Explore Ischia Ponte

On the first day I would recommend exploring Ischia Ponte, this is a beautiful former fishing village near to Ischia Port with traditional restaurants, bars, shops and fishermans houses. After wandering around the village, I would then recommend visiting Castello Aragonese. This is a must-visit when coming to Ischia, it is a medieval castle located on a little island connected to Ischia Ponte. It has amazing views of Ischia, and across to the Bay of Naples but be prepared as there are a lot of stairs. Tickets for the castle cost 10 euros.

After visiting the castle, I would then recommend lunch at Ristorante Da Maria. This is quite a casual restaurant, located in the Bay of Cartaromana and it has a stunning view over the sea and of the Castle. It has great, fresh food and it is reasonably priced too. There is a taxi boat service from Ischia Ponte which I would recommend getting as the walk has a lot of steps.

Then in the evening we went to a DJ set at Rena Beach Club in Maronti Beach. First we had a cocktail at Baja Maronti Bar at sunset which had such a nice vibe and view over the sea. Then we headed down to Rena. There is a DJ there every Saturday and Sunday in the summer until 10pm. Then we got a pizza afterwards for dinner from Caffe Libeccio.

Day 2- Sant’Angelo and Sorgeto Thermal Springs

On day 2 I would recommend visiting the beautiful village of Sant’Angelo, you can get the bus here from Ischia Port. This is a beautiful, quaint village with two beautiful beaches, crystal clear waters and plenty of lovely shops and restaurants. Here you can wander around the narrow streets, visit the local craft shops and spend time at Spiaggia di Sant’Angelo beach. There are also bars with a great view over the sea you can stop and have a drink in.

We had lunch at Ristorante Lo Scoglio which has a stunning view over the beach and sea. Another beautiful restaurant I would recommend going to for lunch is Ristorante deus Neptunus which has the most beautiful views, however you will need to make a reservation.

After lunch, I would suggest heading to the Bay of Sorgeto which is known for its natural hot thermal springs. There are regular water taxis that leave from Sant’Angelo town to Sorgeto and they cost approximately 5 euros and then it is free to visit the hot springs. When you visit Sorgeto, use the walkways to get into the water as the water closest to the shore is scalding hot.

In the evening I would recommend an aperitivo at Divino Bacco, this is a great spot for people watching with an Aperol Spritz or a glass of wine. Then I would recommend dinner at Auras Restaurant in Ischia Ponte. This is a stunning restaurant on the waterfront with amazing food and a beautiful view of the castle.

Day 3- Giardini la Mortella and Negombo thermal spa

On day 3, I would suggest visiting Giardini la Mortella for a couple of hours. These are stunning subtropical and Mediterranean gardens with stunning panoramic views over Forio and the sea. You can get the bus to the gardens from Ischia port, and tickets cost 12 euros. You can get these from the ticket office on the day.

Then, in the afternoon I would recommend visiting Negombo thermal spa. This is a beautiful spa, with stunning, tropical looking gardens, 14 thermal pools and a steam room. There is also a sandy beach on the Bay of San Montano with beautiful, calm waters and sun loungers you can use. It costs 50 euros for half a day, I would recommend booking this in advance. There’s also a choice of restaurants that you can have lunch at here.

Then in the evening, I would suggest heading to Ischia Port. Enjoy an aperitivo cocktail at Porto 51 cocktail bar, followed by dinner at Portobello Restaurant which services amazing, fresh food with a lovely view over the Marina.

Day 4- Beach Club

On your final day in Ischia, I would suggest spending the day relaxing at a beach club. I went to Giardino Eden which is a beautiful beach club in Ischia Ponte. It has a beautiful platform decking area over the crystal clear sea, with sun loungers and access to swim in the sea. It also has four swimming pools, and a stunning restaurant and bar area. In peak summer time, it costs 60 euros for a sunlounger on the decking area and use of a towel for the day.

Another great option is Club Scanella which is a beautiful beach club, located a short boat ride from Sant’Angelo. There are sun loungers you can rent on a private rock area, with private access to the sea. There are also three outdoor pools that you have access to. It costs 35 euros for a sunbed and parasol for the day.

In the evening, I would suggest heading to Forio and spending some time wandering around and exploring this beautiful town. There are some beautiful churches, and local shops. It is also a great place to get an aperitivo and watch the sunset. Then I would recommend getting a Pizza for dinner from La Bella Napoli al porto.

Other things to do in Ischia

1. Hike Mount Epomeo

A popular thing to do in Ischia is to hike up Mount Epomeo. This is a moderate hike, which takes about an hour each way, but offers stunning panoramic views. The most popular route starts at the village of Fontana.

2. Take A Boat Tour Around The Island

Another great option is to book a boat tour to some of the best beaches and swimming spots around the island

3. Visit Procida Island

This is another beautiful island you can visit in the Bay of Naples, you can get the ferry there from Ischia which only takes 20 minutes, or book a trip with an organised boat tour.